REDMOND, OR -- Housing Works and NeighborImpact are working together to increase affordable housing options in Central Oregon. The two nonprofits' new combined entity, called "Housing Impact LLC," was recently awarded a large grant for two new projects, "Home Partnership, which is a federal grant program that's administered through the state, we applied for a little bit over a million dollars from that program," says Housing Works Executive Director David Brandt, "And then we applied for $200,000 in money that the state derives from state recording fees; so in total, it's a little over $1.2 million grant."

Brandt expects construction to begin on Redmond's Liberty Lodge (pictured) early next year, "We've done all the pre-development, so now we go out and we do the final development of the project, final architecture and all that, and get a contractor to build the house. And then we draw on these funds, and some other funds we have, to complete the project." He hopes it will take only 10 months to complete.

Liberty Lodge will be built as a two-story eight-plex near job opportunities, shopping and recreation, "We're directing it toward some of our neediest residents in the Redmond community, and it's a small project: it's eight units for intellectually disabled, low income residents," says Brandt, "This is a great little project, and I think it's going to do a lot of good in the community."

Funds were also awarded this month to Canal Commons, a 48-unit affordable housing project planned for Bend.